Jennifer Lee-Gutierrez

Jennifer Lee-Gutiérrez completed her Master's degree in Piano Performance at the University of Houston under Dr. Tali Morgulis, where she also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and lecturer in undergraduate Music Theory.

Jennifer began her piano studies at the age of nine under Mary Ann Bishop and subsequently studied with Frances Schwemmer. She was granted the Music University Scholarship and the President's Cabinet Scholarship to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where she was graduated Summa cum Laude from the University Honors Program with a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance.

Jennifer has received numerous awards for her piano performances and academic achievements. These include first place winner of both the State and Regional National Federation of Music Clubs Competition (NFMC); as a result of this accomplishment, she competed at the National NFMC Competition in Spring of 2009. She also received the Annie Lou Ellis Award (2nd place) in the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs piano auditions (2007), 2nd place in the Birmingham Music Club piano auditions (2007), and performed at the winners' reception at the Mountain Brook Club in Birmingham. Jennifer also performed in master classes for highly renowned musicians such as Nelita True and Robert Hatten.

At the University of Alabama, Jennifer received the 2009-2010 Presser Foundation Scholarship, the University of Alabama Women's Club Scholarship (2008), and for her musical and academic achievements was named Outstanding Student of the Year from the University of Alabama School of Music (2010).

Jennifer has had a passion for teaching since a young age. She was invited to join the faculty of the Community Music School in Tuscaloosa as a private piano instructor when only a sophomore due to her considerable teaching experience.

Recent performances include a recital of traditional Greek music in collaboration with violinist Barbara Poularikas and oboist Dr. Anne Knipschild in Desylla, Greece, as well as solo piano performances in Völs am Schlern and Castelrotto in northern Italy as a part of her studies at the 2012 Schlern International Music Festival. Currently, Jennifer resides in Houston, Texas. In addition to her teaching work at the International Music Academy, she performs regularly as a professional staff accompanist at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. She has also served on the faculty at the American Festival for the Arts summer program for middle- and high-school musicians, where she has taught music theory and group piano classes, as well as accompanying vocal masterclasses and choirs. She is actively involved in music ministry at Resurrection Catholic Church.